Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zapriteres’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zapriteres’, characterized by its compact and mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; light and dark pink-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zapriteres’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a container Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zapriteres’.

The new Alstroemeria is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Staprivane, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,131. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventor from a single plant within a population of plants of the cultivar Staprivane in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands on May 13, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, since August, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Zapriteres have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zapriteres’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zapriteres’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Light and dark pink-colored flowers.     -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the parent, the cultivar Staprivane. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Staprivane in flower coloration as plants of the cultivar Staprivane had darker pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Staprilene, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,683. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the cultivar Staprilene in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were more freely branching         than plants of the cultivar Staprilene.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter leaves than plants         of the cultivar Staprilene.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the cultivar Staprilene         differed in flower coloration as plants of the cultivar         Staprilene had white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Zapriteres’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in 17-cm containers in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were about four months-old. The photograph and the description were taken in February, 2005. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zapriteres. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Alstroemeria     hybrida cultivar Staprivane, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.     14,131. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to             155D, in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color:             Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact and mounded growth habit; freely             branching, bushy appearance. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm to 30 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 40 cm to 50 cm.         -   Lateral stem description.—Aspect: Mostly upright. Quantity             per plant: About 15 to 20. Length: About 20 cm to 30 cm.             Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Internode length: About 5 mm             to 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Glabrous, smooth.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Foliage description.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile. Length:             About 6 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate to oblong. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing and fully             developed foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A; slightly             glossy; venation, similar to lamina. Developing and fully             developed foliage, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation,             similar to lamina. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and             continuously flowering. Flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 1             cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color: Close to 145A.         -   Umbel length.—About 9 cm to 12 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 11 cm to 15 cm.         -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 2 to 14.         -   Flower length (height).—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Outer             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 5 cm to 5.5 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Length,             median segment: About 5.5 cm to 6 cm. Width, median segment:             About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Shape, lateral and median segments:             Obovate. Apex, lateral and median segments: Emarginate with             an apical tip. Base, lateral and median segments: Attenuate.             Margin, lateral and median segments: Entire; weakly             undulate. Texture, lateral and median segments: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Color, lateral and median segments, when             opening and fully opened, upper surface; 73C; towards the             center 64C; apical tip, close to 144A. Color, lateral and             median segments, when opening and fully opened, lower             surface: 73D; apical tip, close to 144A. Inner perianth:             Length, lateral segments: About 5.5 cm to 6 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Length, median             segment: About 5 cm to 5.5 cm. Width, median segment: About             1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape, lateral and median segments:             Oblanceolate. Apex, lateral segments: Emarginate. Apex,             median segment: Acute. Base, lateral and median segments:             Attenuate. Margin, lateral and median segments: Entire;             weakly undulate. Texture, lateral and median segments:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, lateral segments, when             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Towards the apex,             64C; center, 2C; towards the base, 73C; apical tip, close to             144A; stripes, close to 59A. Color, lateral segments, when             opening and fully opened, lower surface: 73C; apical tips,             close to 144A. Color, median segment; when opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Towards the apex, 73B; center, 64B;             towards the base, 65D; apical tip, close to 144A; stripes,             close to 59A. Color, median segment; when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: 65B; apical tip, close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2             mm to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20° to 40° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm             to 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20° to 40° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther             diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 152B. Filament             length: About 3.7 cm to 4.3 cm. Filament color: 64C. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Brownish. Pistils: Quantity             per flower: One. Style length: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Style             color: 63B. Stigma color: 63B. Ovary color: Close to 166A.         -   Fruit.—Quantity of fruit per plant: Few. Shape: Globular.             Size: About 8 mm by 6 mm. Color: 137A. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemerias. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from −5° C. to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zapriteres’, as illustrated and described. 